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Tuesday, 8 November 2016

Outfit: grey and fuschia

I'm finding it fun to season jump at the moment - which is easy to do when the weather is pretty consistently cold and dreary. One day I'm more wintry, the next more autumnal. I think this outfit is somewhere in the middle, but you'll see there's still leaves on the ground that mean the last few days of autumn are clinging on.

Grey always feels like a winter colour to me, but pair it with a fuschia-based tartan and it warms right up. I have to say, I really love this pattern - it's such an unusual colour and I really don't have anything else in this kind of purply-pink. Both this skirt and the top are from Vivien of Holloway. Despite this brand being the very first I became aware of in the vintage reproduction world, these are the first items I've owned from them - but that's not because they don't have lovely stuff, it's because I had a sneaking suspicion I was too short for it all. VoH's pieces are on what I consider to be the more authentic length side of repro, but being someone who was probably short by the 50's standards, let alone today's, I thought I might have some issues with skirt lengths being practically on my ankles.

Turned out this was a pretty fair assumption. Thinking a pencil skirt might be more forgiving if it's a bit too long, I had to laugh when it turned up and was well past calf-length on me. But here's where it gets a bit strange - VoH state this pencil skirt is 28" long, but I'm pretty sure mine was longer than that. Unfortunately, I forgot to measure it before I altered it, so we'll never know for sure, but put it this way - I've altered this skirt to measure 27.5" long now (I'm 5'1") and I know I took it up by just over 3"... I'm still not sure at this point if I received an anomaly - VoH kindly measured other stock in the shop and they are apparently 28" long, so it looks that way... And would be just my luck (or I really can't measure?!)! I wanted to be honest about how much I'd altered it, but this probably isn't all that helpful considering...

Anyway, the alteration itself was super simple. I am a complete novice at hemming and take my circle skirts to a tailor, but armed with some hem tape and an iron, I simply folded the existing hem over twice and fixed it into place (I have a fear of cutting fabric!). Because the split at the back is very long, doing this didn't alter the overall look of the skirt once I was finished. Altering like this has given me a skirt the length they look on the VoH models and now I'm really happy with it! It's well made and the snug (spot on to the size guide) waist with generous hips space creates a really flattering shape, with the vent giving plenty of movement.

And all of this is not to mention the top! I've wanted one of these slash-neck tops for ages, but every time I went to finally buy one all the colours had sold out. D'oh! Fortunately, this time a couple of the grey colourways were in stock in my size so I went for this light marl effect one and I'm not disappointed. The jersey is thick, so it's a great basic to have around at this time of year. In fact, I've already worn it three times since I got it, because I keep finding it goes with all of my work skirts, so a big thumbs up for this colour. I also saw on VoH's Instagram that other colours of this top are due back in stock very soon - and the black is back in! - so it's worth keeping an eye on the site right now if you did have your eye on one!

25 comments:

Cool as a frosty morning, I just love the grey and fuchsia pairing! The hairdo is particularly good, it sets off the beret very nicely. I am glad you were able to alter the hem fairly easily, it's a great fit on you. Funny how we've both found our perfect pencil skirts recently!

Now I own a slashneck top too and it's the one top I miss when it's in the washing basket, surely a sign that I should buy it in other colours? I am waiting for a discount code though!

This is so gorgeous! I'm really behind with commenting, but have been loving all of your looks lately: you're really making me want to get back into retro! I have the same issue with VoH, though - their skirts and dresses are almost ankle length on me, but I do love those slash neck tops: permanently waiting for the green to come back in stock!

The slash neck top is absolutely fabulous on you! I definitely need to get up to speed on that trend. And paired with the pencil skirt, complete harmony! Loving the hairstyle too. Super simple but effective.

Very cute! I love your little booties too. <3 I hem my skirts that same way.. by folding over and not cutting. But I've never thought to use hem tape! So much easier that what I usually do... stitch by hand! :O

Love the colour you went for - this is the first time I've seen this colour scheme on a plaid skirt and I really like it! Usually when I think pink or purple on a plaid skirt Avril Lavigne circa 2000s comes to mind but this is nothing of the sort, just a nice mix up of colours for an autumn look. I am glad you could get the skirt to work for you, this outfit is so flattering and looks fabulous on your figure! A great pairing for that Erstwilder necklace too, it compliments the top and this outfit in general so well.

Love this look! The gray and fuchsia look fabulous together, and with the beret, tights, and ankle boots, you've got a really fantastic fall look.It's a bit weird about the length of the skirt, but hopefully it was just an anomaly. At least it was an easy fix.

This outfit is so perfect! The pink and green tartan skirt looks amazing with grey and the slash top looks so stylish yet so comfy! I tried to do my hair in a side bun like that a few weeks ago, but my crazy hair didn't want to hold so I'm loving your hair with the beret! x

You look absolutely lovely! There's nothing better for autumn and winter than tartan prints. I love that colorway, it's very beautiful and for some time now I've wanted it as a circle skirt, but every time I had money to buy it, it was already gone in my size... pretty much like the slash tops.

May I ask what size you took in the top? I wear VoH size 14 (36-28-40) in dresses and size S patella belts (because they are stretchy and the M size was way too big) but I really have no idea what size to get in stretchy tops like that.

I also have to note it's probably not the first time people get a skirt that's longer than it's supposed to be. I have like 6 of their halterneck circle dresses and they have varying fits. Two of them (the polka dot ones) are like 2 inches longer than the other ones despite the site stating all of them were 28" (and on top of that, the bodice was longer too, but it's ok since I'm tall). Now they actually mention some of the dresses are longer than others, which is good. I was a little surprised to find out my two now favorite dresses turned out to be longer than anything I had bought earlier. I don't mind, because I'm tall (and I actually ended up liking the longer length more than the original) but for a short girl that will probably mean a visit to the tailor.

I took the small in this top - I'm 34 bust, 26 waist and I found it had plenty of room for me - a touch too roomy on the waist really. I reckon you might get away with the small if you wanted a close fit as it has some stretch too. I would have preferred a slightly closer fit on mine, but tucked in I don't mind...

That's really interesting to hear about your experience with sizing! It's something I'm always paying close attention to because an inch or two makes the difference between something looking good or bad, but this is the first time I'd had such a difference between the measurements and reality!

The grey is so lovely with this pink tartan and very "in between seasons". It's amazing what a simple alteration can do too, to making your items more wearable. Also, your boots are so lovely too! The Artyologist

I recently began buying VOH, now own two slash, a raglan and 3 circle skirts and one pair of the 50s pants...same issue ...I am 5'2 , so tho I have worn the skirts as is I know pricey alterations are on the horizon ...to be about 27 to 27.5 , I too would swear they are longer than 28...but maybe it's where our waist actually is , long or short.